Sheet-metal curtain



-. E. QHNSTRAND.

sum mam CURTAI-N. APPLICATION min 152 1919.

a en May 24,1921.

and

47Z'Ug7t 0 r a modification UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nnocn: onns'rnann. or MOHAWK, new YORK, .essrenora To LIBRARY BUREAU; or

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. A CORPORATION on NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- SHEET-METAL CURTAIN.

Application. filed June 27', 1919. Serial No. $07,169.

To all whom it may] concern: I

Be it known that I, Enoorr OII STRAND, citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Mohawk, in the county of Herkimerand State of New York, have invented new and useful Tmprovements'in Sheet- Metal Curtains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flexible sheet metal curtains or shutters intended particularly for fireproof roll-top desks, filing cabinets, and similar structures.

Tn the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventi0n,- I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in front elevation, of part of a curtain containing the invention together with the guide channels;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of, Fig. 2;

Fig. tiS a fragmentary detail, partly in section, of the body of the curtain; I

Fig. 5 is a detail in cross section showing Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a cur tain containing the modification shown in Fig. 5; and v y Fig. 7 is a detail in cross section showing a modification of the guide channel.

The curtain is made of an integral sheet of flexible sheet metal, bent to form a plurality of parallel, transversely extending, narrow, spaced ribs, beads or corrugations l, with flat strips or panel sections 2 between the ribs. The curtain is preferably formed of sheet steel and being made in one piece instead of being built up of separate strips or slats, as has heretofore been the usual practice in. making steel curtains for desks, cabinets, etc., it is not only fireproof but is imperforate and therefore waterproof, which is a marked advantage since the danger of damage to the contents of the article of furniture by water is nearly as great as by fire. v 1

In the preferred form herein illustrated the corrugations or ribs 1 are formed on one side only of the curtain; preferably the front or outer side. The ribs both contribute to the flexibility of the curtain on lines parallel. to the ribs, and also stiffen and reinforce the curtain against bending transversely of the ribs. I

At the lateral edges of the curtain are longitudinally arranged guiding members of a construction adapted to permit the curtain to'bend on lines parallel to the rlbs, so that the curtain may follow curved -gu1de ways as; required in roll-top desks, filing cabinets for similar articles. As herein shown these guiding members may consist of'bent over tubular ends 3 of the panel sections, severally constituting sections of 1011- gitudinally disposed sectional guiding mem bers, which will permit the curtain as a whole to bend by allowing it to, bend on the ribs 1 between the several sections 3. The sections 3 are bent over in the direction opposite to the ribs 1 and are consequently offset from the plane of the panel sections 2 on the side opposite the ribs The sectional flexible guiding members, made up of a series of the sections 3, run in guide channels 4-, which may follow any desired curved or straight line; The guide channels 4 embrace the lateral edges of the curtain and the guiding members 3, and in the preferred construction are provided at the bottom with an upwardly extending flange 5 projecting over the inner side of the guiding members 3, thus not only providing anadditional guide-rail for the curtain, but forming a trough to catch and carry away water in case any should flow over the lateral edges of the curtain, thus serving further to protect the contents of the article of furniture against water damage in case of a fire. If this feature is not required a plain guide channel may be used as shown in Fig. 7, without the flange 5.

' Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the curtain is provided at its lateral edges with a flexible cable or cord, 6, preferably a steel cable in order to carry out the fireproof characteristics of the device. This cable 6 engages the element of whatever material or whatever structure, is within the scope of the inven* tion, and is intended to be included within Patented May 24, 1921.

the general term cable. For example instead of ordinary twisted steel wire cables, the cables might consist of flexible single pr multiple strand wires, rods, strips or the ike.

The expressions transverse, lateral, and longitudinal as herein used are relative terms only, and it will be understood that the curtain is adapted and intended for use in various positions as a push-up or pulldown curtain, or a horizontally sliding curtain.

I claim:

1. A flexible metal curtain comprising an integral sheet of metal bent to form a plurality of parallel, transversely extending spaced ribs, with substantially flat panel sections between the ribs.

2. A flexible metal curtain comprising an integral sheet of metal bent to form a plurality of parallel, transversely extending, spaced ribs on one side only of the curtain, with panel sections between the ribs.

3. A flexible metal curtain comprising an integral sheet of metal bent to form a plurality of parallel, transversely extending, spaced ribs, with relatively wide and substantially flat panel sections between the ribs, and longitudinally arranged guiding members at the lateral edges of the curtain adapted to permit the curtain to bend on lines parallel to said ribs.

4. A flexible metal curtain comprising an integral sheet of metal bent to form a plurality of parallel, transversely extending, spaced ribs on one side only of the curtain, with panel sections between the ribs, and longitudinally arranged tubular sectional guiding members at the lateral edges of the curtain, said members being offset from the plane of said panel sections on the side opposite to the ribs, constructed and arranged to permit the curtain to bend on lines parallel to said ribs, and a flexible cable passing longitudinally through said sectional guiding members.

5. A flexible metal curtain, comprising an integral sheet of metal bent to form a plurality of parallel, transversely extending, narrow spaced ribs, with relatively wide panel sections between the ribs, the ends of the panel sections bein bent over collectively to form a longitudinally arranged sectional guiding member of tubular cross section. 7

6. A flexiblemetal curtain comprising an integral sheet of metal bent to form a plu- .ribs, longitudinally arranged guiding members at the lateral edges of the curtain integral therewith and constructed and arranged to permit the curtain to bend on lines parallel to said ribs, and a guide channel embracing the lateral edges of the curtain, said guide channel having a flange at the bottom projecting upwardly at the inner side of said guiding members and forming a trough.

Signed by me at Ilion, N. Y., this 21st day of June 1919.

ENOGH OHNSTRAND. 

